Indian doctors treat local heart disease patients

FOUR doctors from India are treating local people suffering from heart diseases at the Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby. Hospital chief executive Col Sandeep Shaligram, who is attending the medical symposium in Port Moresby, said the team began their cardiac programme on Tuesday. The team is led by interventional cardiologist Dr Vineet Sankula. They conducted a surgery which telecast live at the symposium. “The team has taken up complex cases, a total of eight cardiac surgery cases within three days and expecting more to come,” Sandeep said. “The visiting medical team has done a tremendous job so far and we are looking forward to help those who have heart-related sicknesses to come and have a free heart scan provided for the general public every Friday.” He said the costs were low and affordable to people who had heart diseases. Dr Sankula said poor lifestyle and diabetes often led to heart failure. “When I come here in PNG I treat more of cardiothoracic cases and getting such treatments here in your country in easier than going abroad as it will cost you more than a K100,000.” The team includes three surgeons and a specialist anaesthetist.